South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Cigar lounges
How many magazines can you not read? Why even pretend you want to eat that soulless food? Spending interminable hours in a terminal in the airport is the first circle of hell (limbo, Dante’s Inferno. Google it).
But if you’re at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, you’re in luck, because there’s plenty to do. Here are some places to check out.
The Old Ghosts Collective
Browsing through the sideshow-like oddities, folk art, antiques and just plain ol’ weird stuff at this Fort Lauderdale shop is like touring the set of FX’s “American Horror Story,” especially the “Freak Show” iteration in Season 4. You can find scarred clown dolls, weathered ventriloquist dummies, ghoulish masks, Ouija boards, vintage circus banners and just about anything creepy. Speaking of creepy, owner Jackson Valiente also runs Kreepy Tiki Tattoo next door (see the next entry). The Old Ghosts Collective is located at 2608 S. Federal Highway. Call 305-803-9014 or go to Facebook.com/oldghostscollective.
Kreepy Tiki Tattoo
What is a memorable trip to South Florida without a tattoo (or a piercing) to commemorate the stay? Just a stone’s throw north of the Old Ghost Collective is Kreepy Tiki Tattoo, at 2606 S. Federal Highway. Call 305-803-9014 or go to KreepyTiki Tattoos.com. And just to the south is Into the Woods Tattoo and Art Gallery, at 138 N. Federal Highway, in Dania Beach. Call 954-404-9536 or go to IntoTheWoods Tattoo.com.
Psychic Reader
Mrs. Johnson does all kinds of readings, including palm ($15), tarot card ($25 and
$40), crystal energy ($50) and psychic
($75). There’s also a basic-personality palm reading, which doesn’t go into your love life or key dates, for $5. Psychic Reader is located at 219 N. Federal Highway, in Dania Beach. For more information or to make an appointment, call 954-839-6770 or go to DaniaPsychic.com. A dark chocolate pecan tortoise is one of the many treats available at Jimmie’s Chocolates and Cafe 47 in Dania Beach. Mrs. Johnson does all kinds of readings at her Dania Beach office just south of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
an hour or so. Snyder Park is located at 3299 S.W. Fourth Ave., in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-828-4585 or go to Fort Lauderdale.gov/Departments/Parks -Recreation/City-Parks/Snyder-Park.
antique and art shops called Dania Beach’s Historic Art and Antique District. Just have your shared ride drop you off anywhere on U.S.1/Federal Highway between Northeast Third and Northwest Third streets. For more information, go to DaniaBeach Chamber.org.
Of the 12 or so stores, some of our favorite places to shop for tchotchkes include Vintage Market and Salvage Co. for china, silverware and decorative gifts (17 N. Federal Highway; 954-929-5557 or Facebook); Tinkers for watches, jewelry and coins (33 Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant in Dania Beach is a must-visit institution.
N. Federal Highway; 954-927-6599); and Kodner Galleries for fine art, jewelry and antiques (45 S. Federal Highway; 954-925-2550 or Kodner.com).
As for art, do not miss the little warren of tiny galleries and artist studios in the blinkand-you’ll-miss-it Canterbury Square, which is located at 38 S. Federal Highway.
For many people, there’s nothing quite as relaxing as puffing away on a stogie. But just try and enjoy a cigar in the airport. It’s far better for you to take refuge in one of the nearby cigar lounges. There’s Neptune Cigar Superstore, which is a must-stop-